Former Democratic treasurer faces prison sentence

SACRAMENTO, CA (AP) - A former campaign treasurer who worked for dozens of California Democratic politicians is expected to learn her fate as a judge sets her sentence for defrauding her clients of at least $7 million.

Kinde Durkee's attorney and prosecutors have asked a U.S. District Court judge for an eight-year sentence at a court hearing Wednesday. The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud in March for defrauding dozens of clients for more than a decade.

A pre-sentence report filed by her attorney portrays Durkee as incapable of managing her business, letting candidates shirk their payments and refusing to fire incompetent employees because she was afraid of conflict.

Prosecutors say Durkee shifted millions of dollars among bank accounts for politicians, community groups, personal accounts and those of her business.